“It feels rich, like a lot of dress,” says Laura Poretzky-Garcia as she shows me one of the best-selling models from her Spring collection. Ruffled and maxi-length, eight yards of material went into its pleated skirt. “Our pieces have a lot of fabric; they don’t feel flimsy,” the designer says, and that, she believes, is an important point of distinction in the contemporary market.

Three seasons ago, Poretzky-Garcia, who had designed under the label Abaeté, returned to the fray with Laura Garcia. Her aim is to build a brand that consistently delivers core pieces to her customer. Evolution rather than revolution is her m.o. “We don’t change things up completely every season,” the designer emphasizes. For Spring, Poretzky-Garcia’s favorite maxi dresses are back, natch, balanced with some more tailored pieces, a few jackets, and some cropped pants, which in turn are worn over softening, flirtatious lingerie pieces. It’s clear that this is primarily a dress(y) line. That’s not to say it’s formal, but it’s versatile within the pretty, feminine range. These are looks that could take the wearer from the farmers’ market to the Four Seasons Restaurant, where the lookbook was photographed. Though the printed pieces for Spring are sure to appeal, they riff on the expected; fresher and more needle-pushing is the sultry sensuality and color pop of a draped pink camisole paired with a red tiered skirt. “She’s not the Brooklyn girl, necessarily,” says the designer, stating the obvious. It’s sort of refreshing, actually, to hear the phrase “uptown girl” dusted off after so long. Poretzky-Garcia is one herself, having moved from the West Village to Harlem, and the brand is clearly a reflection of the designer’s personal style. “It has to inform the brand,” the designer says, “my name is on the label.”